Headliner acts announced for the Bassmaster Fesitval

WADDINGTON – The headliner acts have been officially announced for the upcoming Bass Elite tournament.

An American Idol finalist, a chart-topping singer described as country musics Gen-Y family man, and Central New Yorks most popular country band will take the stage on consecutive days of the Bassmaster Elite Series Evan Williams Bourbon Showdown at the St. Lawrence River in Waddington this August.

Bucky Covington, a best-selling country singer and finalist in Season Five of Fox-TVs American Idol, will perform on Aug. 9, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Jason Michael Carroll, whose first album debuted at #1 on Billboards Top Country Albums chart, will perform on Aug. 10 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. And Chris Taylor and the Custom Taylor Band, last year voted Best Country Band by Syracuse New Times, will play on Aug. 11 from 1 to 3 p.m.

All three concerts take place in Whittaker Park in Waddington.

Theyre part of the Tastes and Talents of the North Country Festival that will run concurrently with the Bassmaster tournament happening Aug. 8 to 11.

The locally sponsored concerts are free of charge to the public. Local organizers believe that having Covington and Carroll - as well as the popular regional country band led by Chris Taylor - will serve to further boost crowd numbers.

Local talent will be represented too. Performances are on tap from the Backroad Bluegrass Band, Crunchenstein, the Acoustic Brothers, Atomic Precipitation, Lacey Stoddard, Kaitlyn LaShomb, Troy OBrien, and Nick Rycroft. Also, the Native North American Traveling College will be pay tribute to Native American culture through song and dance on the afternoon of Aug. 9.

The combination of the premier bass fishing tournament with a free Festival means that there is literally something for everyone during the four days of the Evan Williams Bourbon Showdown at the St. Lawrence River. Highlights include:

n The chance to see 100 of the worlds best anglers compete for a first prize of $100,000 and an instant entry in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic out of Birmingham, Alabama.

n Some 100 vendors including artists, crafters, food and wine purveyors and producers, local services especially aimed at anglers, town and village Chambers of Commerce, and community organizations.

n Special features such as a kids corner; The Hawg Trough, a 50-foot mobile fish tank; a mobile fishing simulator that will allow people to fight trophy sport fish; a mobile fishing pond; and an interactive birds of prey show.

A complete schedule will be released soon. For more information, visit northcountrybass.com.

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